Sachin Tendulkar with other devotees during a public viewing of Sathya Sai Baba’s body in Puttaparthi (AP photo)
Cool and composed in the face of the most brutal bowling attacks, cricket’s master blaster Sachin Tendulkar broke down and wept like a child on Monday, April 25th, while paying homage to Sai Baba at the Sai Kulwant Hall.
Sachin flew in on a chartered flight along with wife Anjali for a last glimpse of the godman, and sat for half an hour close to the glass coffin in which the body was kept.
The batsman, who cancelled his birthday celebrations on Sunday and confined himself to the hotel room all morning, had to be consoled by other devotees as Anjali sat in the hall silently.
Sachin frequently visited Prashanti Nilayam in the Baba’s lifetime to seek blessings of the spiritual guru. During the last birthday celebrations of Sai Baba, on November 23, Tendulkar, V V S Laxan, Rahul Dravid and other Indian cricketers were in Sai Kulwant Hall to wish the godman happy birthday.
It has been learnt that Sachin used to seek Sai Baba’s blessings whenever his batting form dipped. “Sai Baba had a special liking for Sachin and always told him that he would be the world’s greatest cricketer,’’ a source in Prashanti Nilayam said.
After the darshan, the couple left for the airport. Even in his moment of grief, Sachin was not spared demands for autographs from their chauffeur and police officers, and he patiently complied. At 11:10h, their flight left Puttaparthi for Hyderabad.
Earlier, another legendary cricketer and staunch Baba devotee, Sunil Gavaskar, came at 7:15h with his wife, son and daughter-in-law. “Baba has physically left us. He will continue to remain in our hearts. We should take forward his message and social work,’’ said Gavaskar.
The cricketing legend’s association with Baba goes back many years. Before Sachin came in contact with Baba, Gavaskar was already a disciple. Sachin got involved after the Sri Sathya Sai Unity Cup, a One-Day International between India XI and World XI at the Hill View Stadium in Puttaparthi on December 30, 1997. Gavaskar played a key role in organizing the match on Baba’s wishes. Then Prime Minister I K Gujral and Sai Baba watched the match, along with several cricketing giants.
Sachin led India XI against Arjuna Ranatunga’s World XI. India scored 289, while the opposition was bundled out for 161. Suresh, a 34-year-old shop owner, said: “We never thought we’d see our favourite cricket gods so close. We had a lot of fun that day.’’
Cricketers V V S Laxman and Sreesanth, too, visited the ashram on Monday. Laxman had recently launched a Telugu CD on Shirdi Sai Baba called `Sai Bodha’. Sai Baba will be interred on Wednesday morning, April 27th. (The Times of India)
